
I really don’t know where to start but I feel if I don’t start soon I may just melt into the ether and I don’t want to do that!
Perhaps if I just go chronologically things might become clear to you and hopefully to me .
6th September we dropped Ruby off at an “almost sister’s house” to stay for four nights while we were away.
7th September we headed for London, west London to our old stomping ground to meet people we have known on and off for over 65 years. We were meeting up to scatter the ashes of our bestman Bob.

There were eleven of us present , Bob’s ex-wife and his only son amongst the number. We met at the park at the bottom of the road he grew up in until he married and moved out.




After scattering the ashes we went for a pub lunch and reminised a lot more.
8th September we were packed and picked up my sister and her husband and drove up to Norwich for our niece’s wedding. Late afternoon we arrived at our hotel, after a long and very wet drive. We had a coffee then went to the station to pick up my eldest sister and bought her back to the hotel.
Then we heard the very sad but not unexpected news that our Queen Elizabeth had died. We had a long reflective and chatty dinner.
I was born in 1953 , a few months after the Queen’s Coronation. Therefore the Queen has been the figure head to the background of my whole life. We all knew she would not live forever but , old and tired and yes indeed her hands in the photo of her meeting Liz Truss, our new Prime Minister, looked very bruised, suggesting she had had a canular fitted. Even so her death came as a real shock.
One of my brother’s received a M. B. E. From the Queen, for recognition of his Army Career and service to his country. I saw the lovely photos of him, his wife and daughter at the Palace. My sister Frankie accompanied her husband to a Royal Garden party. We also saw lovely photos of that occasion too.
Apparently the road my family lived in when I was growing up was often used by the Queen on her way to Heathrow Airport or London Airport as it known then. This was before the M4 motorway was built. One day my mum was out walking with me in her arms. The Queen’s car went by, my mum lifted me up and she said that the young Queen smiled and waved…. I was too young to remember.
The 9th of September dawned bright and we went out for a walk after breakfast we found our way out to some woods and found a very spooky looking building which was an Asylum in its day. We met a nice young chap who told us all about the place….he was a painter and decorator and was working in the building behind which is a prison for the criminally insane…..

So then back to the hotel to get ready , then all five of us squeezed into the car…not really it is a big car! Off to the wedding and the heavens opened! ..it rained all through the service , canapes and drinks and the meal and speaches finally it q I’ll cleared up to a lovely evening!
The wedding started normally enough, a friend of the bride was playing the piano beautifully when suddenly she started playing Darth Vader’s theme from StarWars. Low and behold Four Star troopers, Boda Fett and Darth Vader walked up the ailse , apparently they were there so Darth could claim the bride . Thankfully the Groom and Groom’s men successful saw the interlopers off. The service then continued without a hitch!



Now rain at a wedding is supposed to bode good luck and happiness. It also brings rainbows which are definitely a good luck sign 🌈.

10th September we packed up and after breakfast we took eldest sister to the station then went back to pick up other sister and her husband for the journey home. Another long day. In the evening we went and got Ruby back she had had a great stay with her new friend Bo, nearly sister’s new dog .

Sunday was washing, dog walking and housework and reading book one of a two book series which you will hear more of soon.
Monday 12th started a week of Drs appointments , phone calls, and the like, hubby is still not well and having trouble with his ears and hearing and other worrying things. We have had our seasonal flu jabs and we booked up for our Covid booster. It’s all go here.
Shopping, helping family and neighbours also filled the week, the weekend was busy too and all the while I wanted to blog but just could not settle to it. There were a few family birthdays three infact!
Then Monday 19th was The Queens funeral and yes we watched it for most of the day. It was meticulously done and really very touching and beautiful. The Royal family really had a very long and exhausting fully of emotions and even tears for their beloved, Mum, Gran and great Gran….Rest in peace Marm you have done your bit.. God Save the King, Charles 111.
So here we are halfway through another week and all I can ask is that you could be patient and I will try to catch up …as soon as I can.💜💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:00:42
You’ve had a full on time, Sis!
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:07:42
No where near back to normal yet sis but I am trying 💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:18:28
💛💛💛
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:33:36
💜😉
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:09:28
I enjoyed reading about your eventful time. 💕
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:11:32
Thank you Alethea, how are you keeping 💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:14:52
I’m doing pretty well. I miss my daughter. It’s taking some getting used to having her so far away for her first year of college. She’s flying home for a short visit in a month and then we’ll fly to London to see her in November. Looking forward to both occasions. ❤️
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:16:35
That will be lovely. I am sure you will love London. We do miss our children to us they are always our babies ❤️💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:18:33
I have been to London a few times and I do love it. As does my daughter, which is good. I can imagine the missing of adult children isn’t any easier. 🤗
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:21:56
Absolutely not , truly absolutely not my eldest is 50yrs next year and I still worry. London is my home town …I still miss it 💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 13:19:15
❤️
Sep 21, 2022 @ 11:30:55
What a whirlwind you have had, but so much joy packed in! I am sorry about the health concerns – that seems to creep up again and again as we get older. The wedding was lovely.
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:07:23
Bless you Willow. Just do what you need or want to do, life comes first. Keep well and safe xx
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:26:21
Thank you Sir Raven 💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:16:49
Most welcome, m’lady x
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:30:41
💜💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:40:44
Harried but good all around- rest up!
Sent from my iPhone
>
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:27:44
Thank you 💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:43:30
No rush Willow, my blog aint going anywhere 🤗😁
Sep 21, 2022 @ 13:53:29
Excellent 😊
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:57:21
When I started reading this, I had a sinking feeling it was going to end with Ruby dying. Turned out it was just the Queen (lol). Have a bit of a rest before you start anything else!
Sep 21, 2022 @ 13:53:04
Thank Goodness Ruby is still surprising us at every turn . She seems to reach the brink of collapse then boom she finds a little more will!
We don’t walk far but she loves it and a ride in the car. Her legs are very weak but somehow she keeps on keeping on. We have no illusions she can’t last forever but we can make darn sure she is happy. I will keep you informed 💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 15:13:24
She’ll just walk into the sunset one day peacefully and quietly, I’m sure of it xxx
Sep 21, 2022 @ 14:28:20
Yes I think you are right there 💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:40:17
🙂
Sep 21, 2022 @ 13:07:26
Take your time, Sis. We’re still here. ❤️
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:32:52
Thank you 💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 13:08:13
Good grief – what a whirlwind of a ‘vacation!’ I was very sad at the passing of the Queen, and she did love Scotland.
Sep 21, 2022 @ 12:25:32
Oh! So were we sad to lose her . She did love Scotland and I think she made sure she died there so she could travel the most part of her Realm when she died. Bless her she was privileged, rich and looked after but she worked hard as our ambassador ! Here family were so brave in grief and the working Royals equitted themselves very well.
As for the vacation it was short, fast paste but just the break we needed! 💜💜💜💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 17:31:00
The working Royals do work! Alas not Meghan and Harry…
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:30:30
Meghan , Harry and Andrew are just wastes of space !
Sep 21, 2022 @ 17:40:13
What an eventful time you’ve had! I grew up in West London too – I was born in Perivale. 😀
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:12:51
No ! Really that’s Pitshaner park!! My hubby grew up there and I lived just off of Pope’s Lane!
Sep 23, 2022 @ 12:51:54
We were almost neighbours!
Sep 23, 2022 @ 12:56:14
I know what a small world I think we are still almost neighbours, we’re in Berkshire!
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:16:35
Wow, you’ve certainly had a busy time of it. So sorry to hear about your friend but wonderful to hear about the happy (and fun) wedding. So sorry to hear about hubby too, best get checked over and settled ❤️. You look after yourself too, Willow. We’ll all be here waiting when you are ready but life can be very exhausting at times so be sure to take care of yourself too. Sending love. KL ❤️
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:27:54
Thank you K.L. …I dread to think what Morgarna and co are up too!
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:23:23
Busy, busy, busy. It’s all catching up with you. Glad Ruby was OK with her new friend.
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:25:57
Yes it’s such a worry when we need to leave her 💜
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:39:02
Thanks for sharing, Willow. Sounds ike a full week.
Sep 21, 2022 @ 18:42:21
It certainly was John 😂😂
Sep 21, 2022 @ 23:12:18
You’ve had a very busy time. Welcome home.
Sep 22, 2022 @ 04:57:13
Thank you Dan 💜
Sep 22, 2022 @ 06:40:13
I’m dreadful. It’s easy to react when you’re present but do I notice your absence as I would wish? Nope. Its been a distracting time for sure and sometimes (cliche incoming) a change is as good as a rest! Be good, be well and be back soon…
Sep 22, 2022 @ 09:10:03
I am doing my best!! 🫢🤣🤣
Sep 22, 2022 @ 13:07:47
Course you are
Sep 22, 2022 @ 18:03:49
😉
Sep 22, 2022 @ 19:56:48
It’s been a weird couple of weeks. I was on hols when it happened… the week in between that and the funeral sort of vanished. I’ve postponed my post about the Lying-In-State queue till mid October.
Sep 23, 2022 @ 05:45:33
Yes it’s a very strange time …did you go to the Lying in State …I didn’t
.. life got in the way but there was wall to wall coverage. I hope you had a good holiday .💜
Sep 22, 2022 @ 21:29:16
WOW! You have been busy!!! Sounds like a lot of fun in all of that, and if not some heartfilled times.<3<3<3
Sep 23, 2022 @ 09:38:05
It’s been a Whirlwind 🌪️
Sep 26, 2022 @ 03:12:44
Wow! Beautiful!💕🎵🎼🎶
Sep 26, 2022 @ 07:00:10
It’s lovely isn’t it 💜
Oct 04, 2022 @ 18:34:32
❤️
Sep 23, 2022 @ 13:31:40
You know you never have to apologise for breaks and stuff, right? You have an understanding following (I am shite for being as good as you for blogging!)
What a busy time you had. Sounds like mostly fun stuff 🙂
Sep 23, 2022 @ 18:01:48
It was a mainly fun time just fringed with sadness but I would not of missed it for the world…. Right now it’s all madness too! 💜💜
Sep 23, 2022 @ 18:31:34
I hear you… 🧡🧡
Sep 27, 2022 @ 16:45:46
Hi Willow, gosh, what an interesting idea for a wedding – a visit from Darth Vader and his storm troopers. VEry novel, indeed. The passing of the Queen is the end of an era. VEry sad for us all.
Sep 27, 2022 @ 16:48:34
The wedding was beautiful and so.much fun! The death of the queen was so sad , the end of an era 💜
Sep 27, 2022 @ 17:00:18
It looked like a lot of fun. Charles has big shoes to fill.
Sep 27, 2022 @ 17:27:29
It was and yes he does 😊